The best birthday ever!

Today we celebrated my husband's birthday, which takes me back to my birthday at the beginning of summer.  Can you recall your BEST birthday ever?  Well, this was mine, and I am thrilled to share it with you, as I got to with so many this year.

The day was not about me.  In the morning we had a formal engagement party to attend in Surrey (Depak's cousin), and went to our church family picnic right after in Hope, with lunch and a change of clothes on the way.  And with all this happening, I had to miss out on the ball game in the morning.

The most amazing part of my day was what happened at the church picnic... 

I praise God for my children, they truely are blessings to our lives.  But when I see my child make faith an integral part of her life, now that is worthy of PRAISE!  Along with a couple of other youth, Chelsea was baptized in the lake at the picnic.  She followed in the will of her Heavenly Father and made a public declaration of her faith in her Saviour.

Her testimony left both Depak and I in tears, along with so many others there.  She shared some of her struggles, and how she had to place her dependence on her Heavenly Father for strength.  To know that she is a child of the King is special, to see her depend on the strength of her God is amazing.  Chelsea is a beautiful young lady, and I know that God will work out His perfect will in her life.

Thank-you Chelsea for the best birthday ever!

Crazy...

I don't know how else to describe it... LIFE.  My hiatus from blogging over the past six months was not intentional, life just didn't allow enough breathing room to spend on frivilous things.  I will share some of the why, and some of the happenings over our busy six months, I just wanted to connect here again. 

Manitoba

To start, my little girls and I took a trip to Manitoba to visit my family and brand new nephew Braysen in May.  Here are a couple picture collages.  It has been too long since I've seen my nieces and nephews, and it was good to connect with them again.

I got to take the girls to the zoo for the first time.  We went with a former Abbotsford friend (who now lives in Wpg) and her two kids, Kristene, Zach & Emma.  Kristene was two days away from delivering her 3rd child, what a brave woman.

 We stayed with my parents in my uncle Cornie's trailer, as my parents don't live in Steinbach.  It would have been so much better if it wasn't so cold for the first 3 or 4 days were were there.

 Connecting with family.  Nat and Hayden played well together, most of the time.

 Baking cookies with my nieces

 We got to have a barbeque with my family - to visit everyone all at once, and the sun came out.

 The girls hanging out with Grandma and Grandpa at the trailer.  It was hard to be confined to the small space, but we had a good visit.

Steinbach has an awesome indoor pool.  We love going with my brothers and their families.

 DQ after a swin, and saying bye to Grandma and Grandpa.  We will miss them, its hard having Grandma and Grandpa so far away.

 Hanging out with some special friends.

On our way home.  A good trip, but now we're tired.